Berbers

People living in North Africa, from Morocco's west coast to the oasis Siwa in Egypt,
from Tunisia's north tip to the oases in mid-Sahara.
Berbers are making up a clear majority of the population of North Africa in terms of
race and in terms of identity, a considerable minority. The difference between race
and identity here is central to understand what being Berber is all about. The influx
of Arabs to North Africa, has been far too small up through history to, defend the
large numbers of people now claiming to be Arabs. And the influx of other peoples to
North Africa has not been of any size since the Vandals in the 5th century.

In terms of race, Berbers represent 80% of the population in Morocco and Algeria, more
than 60% in Tunisia and Libya and 2% in Egypt, making up more than 50 million people.
In addition there are about 4 million Berbers living in Europe, primarily in France.
But as the Arabization has swept away th indigenous language from many regions, as
well as the Berber identity, many people with Berber forefathers, are now claiming
to be Arabs. In terms of identity Berbers represent 40% of all Moroccans, 30% of all
Algerians, 5% of all Tunisians, and 10% of all Libyans and 0,5% of all Egyptians,
making up more than 20 million people. An estimated half of the ethnic Berbers living
in Europe regard themselves as Berbers, making up 2 million.

Berbers are just as most other peoples in the world, blended with other people. T
here are differences between Berbers which have inspired many stories, of European
slaves and war captives, bringing blond hair and red hair as well as green and blue
eyes into the Berber race. The origin of Berbers is not certain either, some believe
they may have come from Europe, but it is safest to consider the Berbers as the original
population of North Africa.

The Berber communities are scattered around in the North African countries. They often
live in the mountains and in smaller settlements. There are around 300 local dialects
among the Berbers. Berbers are Muslims, but there are more popular practices found among
Berbers as more Berbers than Arabs live in rural areas, where popular practices are
generally found more often. The conversion of Berbers to Islam took centuries and many
areas Islam didn't catch on until 16th century. This has, of course, left more traces of
former religious practice in the Islam of the Berbers.

Of major cities in North Africa, only Marrakech has a population with a Berber identity.
The Berber dominance in the mountains comes from the days of Arab conquest, when the Arabs
took control over the cities, but left the countryside to its own (the number of Arabs was
to small for a more profound occupation). Berbers in those days had the choice between living
in the mountains, resisting Arab dominance, or moving into the Arab community, where Arab
language and culture were dominating.

Up until a few years ago being Berber was considered to be secondary (like in many societies
in the West: Indians in America, Aboriginals in Australia, Lapps in Norway): in the most
modernized society in North Africa, Tunisia, being Berber is synonymous with being an
illiterate peasant dressed in traditional garments.
As with other indigenous peoples in the world, Berbers are now protesting against the undervaluation
of their culture and identity, the absence of a written language and about having little
political influence. This has been most clear in Algeria but quite evident in Morocco, too.
In Algeria the situation has been so tense, that foreign commentators have speculated in the
chances of a civil war and a partition of the country. Algerian Berbers are often unfamiliar
with Arabic and use French as second language. Arabs in Algeria and Morocco object very much
to the blossoming of Berber identity in their countries, but so far there has been little
aggression between the two groups.

Up through history, Berbers have founded several dynasties strong enough to threaten countries
in Europe. Numidia in Algeria was so strong in the 2nd century BCE, that Rome feared that it could
become a new Carthage. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Almoravids and later in the 12th and
13th centuries, the Almohads, were Berber dynasties strong enough to control major parts of
Northwest-Africa and Spain. At the dawn of colonization, Abdu l-Qadir in the Algerian Kabyles
halted French occupation for many years (until 1847).